Landmark emergency room disrupted by pepper spray

September 13, 2013

WOONSOCKET â The emergency room at Landmark Medical Center was closed Friday afternoon after pepper spray used by police during an incident in the hospital entered the buildingâs ventilation system.
âThis afternoon, an incident occurred in our emergency room that required the response of the Woonsocket Police Department,â hospital officials said in a statement issued early Friday evening. âDuring their response, pepper spray was utilized in our emergency room area to subdue an individual. Unfortunately, the pepper spray was pulled into the emergency roomâs ventilation system.â
The hospital said the emergency room was then closed and the area was then ventilated.
âWe are grateful only one of our patients was minimally impacted by todayâs incident. No other area of the hospital was affected by this incident.â
The emergency room was reopened and fully functional by 7:15 p.m., said Bill Fischer, a spokesman for the hospital. Ambulances were diverted to other hospitals while the emergency room was closed, hospital officials said. Police did not have further information available Friday night.